Each tradition bound society has numerous oral folk traditions. Folklore is the oral tradition of a group. It refers to ways of talking and interacting and includes proverbs, adages, prayers, common expressions, and particularly, superstitions, beliefs, narrative tales and legends. Folklore serves as well, to preserve old customs and tales that are the identity of the folk group.
In India, for example, the folk tales of Punjab are different to that of Himachal Pradesh, the superstitions of Nagas and Garos are different from that of the Bhils and Mundas, and the legends of Rajasthan are different from that of the Tamils and West Bengal.
A similar variation may be found about the adages and local proverbs pertaining to weather, rainfall and agricultural practices.
The distribution of popular customs across the earth’s surface produces a more uniform landscape. The diffusion of fast food restaurant provides an example of landscape uniformity. The buildings of such restaurants are designed to be immediately recognizable as part of a national or multinational company to both local residents and travelers.
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The prominent display of uniform sign is one way to promote immediate familiarity. The cars and electronic goods, manufactured by Japan, are being internationally diffused after the 1970 which is a unique example of popular customs.
The international diffusion of popular customs has led to two problems, which can be understood in a geographic perspective.
First, the diffusion of popular customs may threaten the survival of traditional folk customs in many countries.
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Second, popular customs may be less responsive to the diversity of local conditions in the physical environment than folk customs and consequently may have adverse environmental impacts.
The depletion of scarce resources, the more demand of various skins of mink, lynx, jaguar, kangaroo, and whale for expensive clothes and footwear’s have endangered these species.
Moreover, popular customs generate a relatively high amount of residual, which must be disposed off in the environment. Consequently, there is land, water, air, sound and heat pollution on the increase.